Janet Eloice Gordon-Sorsby

Janet Eloice Gordon-Sorsby was born August 23 in Flint, Michigan to the late Frederick D. Jones and Marquita (Hill) Jones. She departed this life on Sunday, July 7, 2013 at her home in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life service will be held Thursday, July 11, 2013 at 11 a.m. at the Union Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church, 911 S. Crystal Avenue, Benton Harbor, officiated by Pastor Dr. Michael Carson. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery. Friends may visit from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Thursday prior to the service. Those wishing to sign Janet’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. She was baptized at Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church in Flint, Michigan, and accepted Christ as her personal Savior at the age of seventeen. She has been a member of the A.M.E. Church all of her life. Janet loved education, words and children. She started out as a nurse and later became a teacher. She was a perpetual student always taking classes, reading and playing Scrabble. She attended the following schools after graduation: School of Nursing, Flint, Michigan; AA Degree from Lake Michigan College; BS Degree from Indiana University; MS Degree from Michigan State University; Administration and Supervision from Butler University; Certified in Early Adolescence Behavior, Drug Education; and sixteen hours from a PhD in Education. She has written and received many grants, penned a book entitled “The Adventures of Sneakerman,” and was awarded a Lily Fellowship. Janet loved her church, her church family and the Missionary Society. She served in the following offices in the Michigan Conference Branch: Christian Social Relations, Creative Arts, Parliamentarian, Historian Statistician, Niles Area Chairperson and First Vice President. In the Indiana Conference Branch, Janet served as Christian Social Relations, Second Vice President and President of the Indiana Conference Branch from 1992-2000. She also loved music. In 2001, Janet married the love of her life, Lewis J. Sorsby, who proceeded her in death in 2006. They had five wonderful years together. She leaves to cherish her memories her beloved sons Brian D. Hall, Alton Morris and many other adopted sons; her beloved daughters Brenda Hall, Marie Gordon, Robney Hall, her spiritual daughter Myrtice Humphry and many other adopted daughters; grandsons Ryan Quinn Hall, Jordan Zavon Hall, Ethan Hamer and Zachary Hamer; granddaughters Kristen Hamer (Ted), Connie Stringer and Natalie Rae Hall. She also leaves to cherish her memories beloved nephews and nieces in the Chamblee family, the beloved Sorsby family in California and her niece Velma Danzy and family. Janet’s final words were “No sad songs for me. I want a joyful, uplifting celebration because I have had a wonderful life. God Bless all of you!”